Harness-saddle.



PATBNTBD MAR. 31, 1908.

J.Y.GRAY.

"HARNESS SADDLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.9;1907.

2 SHEETS-$11331 1.

' Z Z J vwiac .No. 883,192. Y PATENTED-MARBl, 1908.

" Y J. Y. GRAY;

HARNESS SADDLE.

APPLICATION FILED HOV. 9.1997.

2 SHEETS-BHBET 2.

Wihwooco;

JOSEPH Y. GRAY, OF GLANTON. ALABAMA.

HARNESS-SADDLE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 31, 1908.

Application filed November 9, 1907. Serial No. 401,454.

To all whom it may concern: E Be it known that I, JosEPn Y. GRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clanton,in the county of Chilton and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Harness-Saddle, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to harness saddles. The object of the invention is to provide a saddle which will readily conform to the shape of the animal wearing it, and thereby prevent the centering of strain or pressure at certain points, whereby to preclude the formation of sores, and to facilitate the healing of sores if such exist, and further, to render the saddle comfortable under all conditions of use.

With the above and other objects in View, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a harness saddle, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate correspond ing parts: Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the saddle, the pads and other parts coacting therewith, being omitted. Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4 is a view in transverse section taken at one end of the tree. Fig. 5 is a transverse section takenthrough the center of the tree. Fig. 6 is aview in front elevation of a slightly modified form of the invention.

The tree is constructed wholly of resilient metal, and may be made in a single piece, stamped or otherwise formed to the appropriate contour or, as shown in Fig. 1, it may be made from two strips of resilient metal 1 and 2 that are bent to conform approximately to the shape of the horses back, and

are connected at their crests or bends by a plate 3 that is also curved to conform to the part over which it will lie and is provided on one side with an extension 4 having a slot 5 through. which the back strap will be connected. The plate 3 is attached to the strips or saddle members 1 and 2 by rivets 6, of which any preferred number may be employed. Connected with the plate 3 adjacent to the inner edge of one of the saddle members is a bolt or stud 8, the upper end of which is threaded, and over which fits the check rein hook 9, a nut 10 screwed on the bolt serving to hold. the hook against accidental separation therefrom. While this manner of securing the check rein hook to the tree will be thoroughly effective, itwill be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto as the hook may be provided with the ordinary threaded shank screwed into a threaded opening provided in the plate for the purpose.

Secured to the members 1 and 2 are brackets 1 1 in this instance two in number on each side and which are held assembled with said members by rivets, not shown. As exhibited in Fig. 1, two of the brackets are disposed adjacent to the plate 3 and each car ries a roller 13 and the other brackets are disposed adjacent to the terminals of the members, and each carries a roller 13. These rollers may be of metal and are mounted on suitable shafts or bolts 14, and may be made of tubes, as shown, or may consist of a series of rollers or disks, and as this latter construction will be readily understood, detailed illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary.

To each of the members 2 at points adjacent to the two outer brackets is riveted an ear 15, and these cars carry terret rings 16 which are threaded therein. As will be ob vious the shanks of the terret rings could be threaded directly into the saddle member, thereby dispensing with the ears, and as this is a common way of securing the rings to the saddle tree, illustration of such obvious modification is omitted.

The object of the rollers is to permit the tug strap 17 to move or slide relatively to the saddle and the girth strap 18, and thereby relieve the horses back from pressure, and also to cause the tug strap to be self-adjusting according to the different positions assumed by the thills in turning corners and the like. The girth strap is secured to the saddle by the bolt 8, but the tug strap is provided with a longitudinal slot 19 which is adapted to receive the bolt 8, and to permit the tug strap to slide back and forth thereon and from which it is held against disconnection by the check rein hook 9.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 2 the girth strap passes under the pairs of rollers 12 and 13 on each side of the tree, while the tug strap passes over the two rollers 13 and under the two rollers 12, and by this arrangement the two straps will be positively held assembled with the saddle. While but four rollers are herein shown, it is to be understood that a greater number might be employed if found necessary or desirable If preferred, a cushion or pad 20 may be assembled with the saddle and be held combined therewith by straps 21 that will encircle saddle members.

As above stated, the saddle members will be made of resilient metal thus to permit the saddle as a whole readily to conform itself to the shape of the animal Wearing it, and this result is secured by the arrangement already described; but should it be desired that the saddle members shall have a wider range of lateral adjustment, they may be hinged together at their inner ends, as shown at 22 in Fig. 6.

By the arrangements disclosed it will be obvious that when the saddle is positioned on the animals back it will remain stationary thereon and in a comfortable position, as the tug strap takes up all friction over the rollers 18 resulting from the running of the vehicle, its turning and the like; I

As the rollers 13 are positioned on each side of and adjacent to the crest of the tree, and as the tree is resilient, the pressure of the shafts on the tug straps, and the tug straps on the rollers 13 causes the saddle readily to shape itself to the animals back, and further, this arrangement transfers the bulk of the pressure from the backbone of the animal and distributes it along the sides of the tree,

thereby preventing formation of sores along the backbone.

The improvements herein defined are simple in character and will be found to secure the objects sought in a practical manner and to materially add to the comfort of an animal wearing the saddle.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is 1. A harness saddle comprising resilient members, brackets connecting the members, rollers carried by the brackets, a girth strap disposed beneath the series of rollers, a tug strap disposed over certain of the rollers and under certain of the others, a check-rein hook, and means for holding the tug strap assembled with the said hook for sliding movements relatively thereto.

2. A harness saddle provided with rollers,

a tug strap disposed over certain of the rollers and beneath the others and provided with a longitudinal slot, and a check rein hlook having a shank projecting through the s 0t.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JNo. A. THOMAS, G. H. JoNEs. 

